|
|
 |
|
|
The condition of schools: why it matters and how it affects student health and performance by Fabiola Groshan
|
|
|
The condition of schools: why it matters and how it affects student health and performance by FABIOLA GROSHAN
|
|
| Article Posted: 03/31/2017 |
| Article Views: 515 |
| Articles Written: 9460 - MORE ARTICLES FROM THIS AUTHOR |
| Word Count: 799 |
| Article Votes: 0 |
|
The condition of schools: why it matters and how it affects student health and performance |
|
|
|
|
|
Education,Health
|
|
Parents are constantly being informed on how important it is for them to raise children in a healthy and safe environment and there is so much advice on how to reduce home pollution levels and increase home comfort. The legitimacy of this efforts is unquestionable, but we mustn’t forget that, from a certain age, children start spending more time in school and less at home. At the age of 12, a child can spend up to eight hours a day in school, where breathing healthy air is just as important. Unfortunately, not all schools offer decent conditions. In fact, in some rural communities, poor neighbourhoods and underdeveloped countries, going to school can literally harm the student’s health. Architects, doctors and teachers all agree that a healthy environment is absolutely essential and we cannot hope to lower dropout rates if schools become dangerous. The dangers of improper health conditions in schools Poor conditions in schools are dangerous for everyone, teaching staff included. However, children are all the more vulnerable, especially if they suffer from certain chronic conditions, such as asthma or allergies. Spending five hours a week in an unhealthy environment can impact their health in a negative way and the alarming news is that most public schools are dealing with a plethora of issues. • Poor thermal conditions. Classrooms are either too hot, or too cold. This problem mostly occurs when the school has poor insulation and heat transfer occurs. Experts at Great Northern Insulation advocate that all schools be insulated, because this not only increases comfort for students, but also reduces energy bills. Although they might not seem like a huge problem, poor thermal conditions do have an impact on school performance. When they do not feel comfortable in class, children find it harder to concentrate and can even start skipping school. • Low indoor air quality. This is a problem that doesn’t affect just schools near industrial plants. It is a widespread issue occurring in all urban areas as a result of pollution. Classroom windows are not airtight, so, in time, the air could become hard to breathe. This can also happen if the building was built long ago, with materials that have been banned since then. Once a year, indoor air quality should be tested, and if the results are alarming, then school management should take all necessary steps to ensure that the pollutants are removed. Otherwise, students face a number of serious health risks. Students who have allergies will notice that their symptoms are getting worse and students with asthma can have crises. Needless to say, performance drops as well, because children could get headaches and lack focus. It is not uncommon for parents to blame their children’s poor school performance on teachers or their child’s cognitive abilities, when in fact it is all caused by bad air. • Mould and humidity. Leaking pipes, poor insulation and poor roofing works. All these create a humid environment, which makes the air in the classroom hard to breathe. Even worse, high humidity is perfect for mould, mildew and bacteria, which absolutely flourish in it. Prolonged mould exposure is very dangerous for kids with allergies and respiratory conditions and studies show that some mould species can cause tuberculosis. • Toxic substances. Homeowners are always told that if their homes where built more than 20 years ago they should call an expert to check for signs of asbestos, which was legal and widely used back then, but which is now banned. Schools should make no exception. If traces of asbestos do exist in the walls and children are exposed to them five days a week, they risk developing serious diseases, including lung cancer. How can things be improved? The comfort and safety of students should be a priority for school managers everywhere and creating a pleasant environment should be the first thing that they provide. However, the process through which this safety is achieved is not always easy. Lack of awareness and lack of funds are the biggest challenges, which is why many schools still pose health risks. - Awareness. The first step towards providing safe learning conditions in school is understanding the biggest health risks and what causes them. - Updating guidelines. A standardised set of guidelines would help streamline building inspection and maintenance. - Funding. Lack of funds to repair damage and improve teaching conditions remains one of the biggest challenges in poorly developed regions. Currently, NGOs are putting a lot of effort into donating money for schools. - Finding good commercial contractors. When enough funds are available, contracts should be made only with professional companies that specialise in the maintenance of commercial venues such as schools.
Related Articles -
schools, health in schools,
|
Rate This Article  |
|
|
|
|
|
Do you Agree or Disagree? Have a Comment? POST IT!
| Reader Opinions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Author Login |
|
|
 |
Advertiser Login
ADVERTISE HERE NOW!
Limited Time $60 Offer!
90 Days-1.5 Million Views
|
|
TIM FAY
After 60-plus years of living, I am just trying to pass down some of the information that I have lea...more
|
|
|
|
|
LAURA JEEVES
At LeadGenerators, we specialise in content-led Online Marketing Strategies for our clients in the t...more
|
|
|
|
|
ALEX BELSEY
I am the editor of QUAY Magazine, a B2B publication based in the South West of the UK. I am also the...more
|
|
|
|
|
GENE MYERS
Author of four books and two screenplays; frequent magazine contributor. I have four other books "in...more
|
|
|
|
|
SUSAN FRIESEN
Located in the lower mainland of B.C., Susan Friesen is a visionary brand strategist, entrepreneur, ...more
|
|
|
|
|
STEPHEN BYE
Steve Bye is currently a fiction writer, who published his first novel, ‘Looking Forward Through the...more
|
|
|
|
|
SHALINI MITTAL
A postgraduate in Fashion Technology. Shalini is a writer at heart! Writing for her is an expression...more
|
|
|
|
|
ADRIAN JOELE
I have been involved in nutrition and weight management for over 12 years and I like to share my kn...more
|
|
|
|
|
JAMES KENNY
James is a Research Enthusiast that focuses on the understanding of how things work and can be impro...more
|
|
|
|
